Argentina Beat Up Serbia and Montenegro
June 16, 2006
Fuelled by a more offensive display than against Ivory Coast, the Argentineans ripped the beleaguered Serbs to shreds after responding to coach Jose Pekerman's call for more control of the game.
As the South American's main playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme received the close man-to-man attention of Albert Nadj, it was up to the rest of the side to inject their creativity into the match.
The Argentines did just that with their first solid goal chance in front of the Serbia Montenegro goal six minutes into the match when Maxi Rodriguez slid a pass into the penalty area from Javier Saviola past Dragoslav Jevric and tallied his first of two goals on the day.
In 31st minute, Saviola, who claimed man of the match honors for repeatedly tearing through defenders, and Juan Riquelme combined in a fluid cross field movement from the left that found right wing Esteban Cambiasso on the edge of the penalty area.
The midfielder scored on a left-footed volley after a glorious one-two with Crespo, who fed Cambiasso with a back-heeled pass.
Gonzalez made it three just before half time, after Saviola poached the ball from a Serb player near the corner post and ran around the defense to feed Hernan Crespo with a low cross.
The Chelsea striker was deprived by a gaggle of Serb defenders and goalkeeper but the ball ran across to Gonzalez, who side footed his shot off the post for Argentina's third.
Argentine keeper left with nothing to do
Serbia-Montenegro's strikers were largely denied by Argentina's well organized defense, backed by a confident Abbondanzieri in goal and appeared demoralized by half time.
The Serbs struggled to contain the Argentinean tide at the back despite the slower pace of the game, showed little creativity and appeared blunted in the second half.
In his first World Cup appearance, 18-year-old Lionel Messi was fouled on virtually his first touch of the ball after coming on in the 75th minute. The youngster latched on to the swiftly taken free kick to feed Crespo with an inch-perfect cross to Crespo for Argentina's fifth
Carlos Tevez, who replaced Saviola midway through the second half, dribbled past two defenders and curled his shot past Jevric, while Messi, hailed as Maradona's heir, marked his return from injury with his first World Cup goal in only 15 minutes on the pitch.